US to host US-India trade policy forum

US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel looks on as he attends an Observer Research Foundation conference in New Delhi on August 9, 2014. US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel met India's prime minister in Delhi, seeking to boost weapons sales to a new government eager to modernise its military. India is the world's biggest arms importer and military trade is high on the agenda for the three-day trip, which comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first official visit to Washington next month. AFP PHOTO/RAVEENDRAN

This dialogue comes on the heels of President Barack Obama’s recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi “where they discussed how partnership between the United States and India on trade and investment can contribute to new economic growth and job creation opportunities for our peoples,” he noted.

“The US-India Trade Policy Forum will allow the United States and India to advance on-going bilateral efforts to expand trade and investment through forward-looking policy initiatives that can benefit our manufacturers, workers, innovators, service providers, farmers, and ranchers,” Froman said.

The US-India TPF is co-chaired by USTR Michael Froman and Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman, and is the premier bilateral forum for the discussion and resolution of trade and investment issues between the US and India.

Discussions in the TPF are generally organized around key issue areas, including intellectual property, opening investment in manufacturing, agriculture, and services.

US goods and private services trade with India totalled $102.8 billion in 2014. India is currently the US’ 11th largest goods trading partner with $66.8 billion in total (two ways) goods trade during 2014. Trade in private services with India (exports and imports) totalled $36 billion in 2014.

Here's Why Your Investment Strategy Should Not Be Based on Online Recommendations. Pixabay

An investment strategy is a plan of action taken by investors to guide their financial
decisions on the basis of their investment portfolios. A well-written and measurable
investment strategy is the key to success of every investor. Furthermore, with the
right professional recommendations, these strategies can offer more ways of
creating better financial security.

However, today, the human financial advisors have been replaced by online
recommendation systems, an intelligent information filtering platform that assists
investors to narrow their decision-making process. Online recommendations have
become an integral part of user experience in the investment sector.

Yet, the question still remains that even though online recommendations are
changing digital reality for investors, are they good for investment strategy? The
answer is No!

There are some essential reasons why your investment strategy must not be based
on online recommendations alone. Here’s why:

You’re not talking to a real person. Pixabay

#1 You Are Not Talking to A Real Person
Online recommendations systems follow a universal algorithm due to which users
are siloed into separate segments. It does not tailor your products according to your
needs.

The system only understands that you want to create a plan, but it does not consider
how would you like it to be and what factors are supposed to be taken into
consideration.

The ultimate drawback is that you are not talking to a person but being serviced by a
machine. This means the system lacks a two-way communication, thus restricting
users from making any changes.

On the contrary, in case of a financial advisor, you are talking to a living being, who
will listen to you about your needs, your goals, and present financial status. Based
on the conversation, the advisor will create a suitable plan for you, which if you do
not agree with, can be changed.

#2 Real-Time, Face-To-Face Advice Is the Best Advice

It’s always a good and secure feeling to listen to another human voice and have a
face-to-face conversation with someone, rather than having to deal with a lifeless
machine.

When you ask for online recommendations for your investments, the suggestions are
usually coming from a computerised platform, trained to deal with your queries.
However, this is not enough. It’s only natural to have trust issues with a machine
handling your money matters for you.

Furthermore, it is an undeniable fact that financial advisors have more knowledge on
investments based on their experience in the field. You can have a real conversation
with them, asking question after question till you are satisfied with the answers. You
cannot do the same with online recommendations.

You also have tax deductions to take care of, which requires the recommendations
of an expert dealing with such matters for years. Websites can never estimate the
life changes that might occur unless a user feeds new data into it. In the same way, it
cannot get around the complex calculations of tax reporting, which can greatly affect
your financial decision in the long-run.

#3 Variety of Options

When you opt for online recommendations, the investment options in the results are
limited. This means that you can only opt for what lies in front of your eyes.

Representational image. Pixabay

If you are choosing a term policy, you would like to be judged on more than just a
few questions that you see on your screen and reap maximum life benefits from it.
You would like to know what riders are available along with the term policy, different
types of plans and benefits of the same. You can get all these answers when you
talk to an insurance provider, rather than an online recommendation system.

Furthermore, there are certain conditions that you may have doubts about, especially
pertaining to life policies wherein a divorce or death could bring in changes to the
policy, which needs to be clarified with a real person.

Online recommendations are good to go as long as your investment deals with low-
risk goals like a short-term investment or calculating your home loan or insurance
premium. For long-term goals like investment for the education of your children or
retirement, this tool only creates high risk.

Final Takeaway:

The final word is that online recommendation systems might be standing their
ground in the world of investment, but when you are not sure which direction to move
towards, financial advisors are your saviours.

A certified financial advisor adept with knowledge of your financial situation will prove
to be more proactive in aligning your investments.

Financial advisors, unlike online recommendations, can assist you in figuring out
whether you are on track with your savings and how other investment options can
benefit you in future.